U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced a new initiative to bolster state efforts to combat the growing opioid crisis.

Flanked by a bipartisan group of state attorneys general, Sessions outlined plans to create a new litigation-oriented task force within the Department of Justice to pursue claims against opioid manufacturers and distributors. Sessions also announced that the department plans to file a statement of interest in a multidistrict litigation supporting efforts by state and local governments to hold several drug companies accountable for alleged false and deceptive marketing that played a key role in the opioid crisis.